Aaron Rice of Geek Speak, Inc. at the Enterprise U 2012 press conference at KCC

Technology services and equipment provider GeekSpeak Inc., one of the top winners of the inaugural Kankakee County business plan competition EnterpriseU, is set to open its first commercial office at 263 N. Convent, Suite 1,  in Bourbonnais on June 1.

GeekSpeak, third place winner in the 2011 contest, will open its doors just weeks before the June 19 announcement of the 2012 EnterpriseU competition winners.

“How thrilling that as we approach the culmination of our second year of EnterpriseU, one of our inaugural winners has successfully taken an outstanding concept all the way through to opening day,” remarks Mike Van Mill, Economic Alliance of Kankakee County president and CEO. “Our hats are off to GeekSpeak and similar entrepreneurs throughout our county. They are truly the backbone of our economy.”

The brainchild of local IT specialists Aaron Rice, Richard Tran and Jeffrey Rice, GeekSpeak is a computer boutique specializing in computer repair, sales of trendy computer peripherals and accessories, and education. The shop will offer professional technology certification testing for Microsoft, Adobe, AutoCAD and QuickBooks, expanding in time to offer advanced professional certification tests. General classroom topics will include instruction in the Microsoft Office suite. A “Geek Kids Club” will engage area youth in science and technology projects.

“At GeekSpeak, we understand that people are using technology more and more every day,” explains Aaron Rice, “but we also hope to close the gap between how much people use technology and how much they know about how technology works.”

The company tagline: “We speak IT, so you don’t have to.”

“Our business is more than just selling and fixing computers,” adds Jeffrey Rice. “It’s about a life-long passion for science and technology. It’s a passion we want to share with our community through engaging education and imaginative science and technology activities for kids and their families.”

GeekSpeak’s brick-and-mortar storefront complements an established website, ShopGeekSpeak.com, and a social media presence.

As third-place winner in the 2011 EnterpriseU Kankakee County competition, GeekSpeak received a generous prize package, including startup capital, office space, and complimentary business products and services. GeekSpeak’s brand identity and website were created with the assistance of Holeshot Design Studio and LinkPoint Media, respectively.

“We’re thankful to EnterpriseU and those who sponsored the prize package we were awarded for the great help and support in getting to this point,” notes Richard Tran. “We now have a central base of operations and a visible presence in the community we wish to serve.”

GeekSpeak’s initial hours of operation will be 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday. EnterpriseU program partners will host a ribbon cutting and business after-hours to mark the opening of the new storefront in early June.

Aaron Rice has been involved in information technology for more than 10 years and has experience repairing various types of PCs, Macs and servers. He has certifications in information security (CISSP), bioinformatics (BINF) and project management candidate (PMP). Aaron has an MBA and loves taking grad classes for fun. He currently lives in Reddick with his wife, Sarah, and a new baby daughter.

Richard Tran earned his BA in computer science and MBA from Olivet Nazarene University, where he has been employed as an information technology systems support engineer for more than eight years. With extensive experience repairing printers as well as Mac and PC computers, Richard currently holds a CompTIA A+ and a Dell computer repair certification. He has also been involved in the management and hiring of technical personnel. Richard lives with his wife, Krista, in Kankakee.

Jeffrey Rice has had a life-long passion for science, technology and learning. Completing his BA in biology and his MBA, Jeff has worked in information technology for more than a decade. He specializes in information security, routing, switching and wireless technologies and has been active in designing and maintaining enterprise class networks. Jeff lives in Bradley with his wife, Sheila, and their toddler, Ellie.

The EnterpriseU Entrpreneurs Boot Camp & Business Plan Competition is a program of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, Kankakee Community College and the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, supported by The Daily Journal, LinkPoint Media/Visible Ads, Momentum Momence, the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, WKAN, Kankakee Public Library, Kankakee Farmers’ Market, 5 Stone Marketing, Heritage Development & Construction, National Bank of St. Anne and Wayba Productions.

Semi-final business plan submission deadline for 2012 EnterpriseU contestants is May 30. Competition final presentations, which are open to the public, will take place Tuesday, June 19 at the Kankakee Public Library. Participants have been attending a customized small business training program administered by Kankakee Community College’s Small Business Development Center as well as professional networking events since March.

For more information about EnterpriseU, visit www.enterprise-u.com or phone 815-935-1177.

Cohost EnterpriseU 2012 “Meet the Contestants”

KANKAKEE, IL – April 18, 2012 – EnterpriseU contestants and program sponsors joined Manteno Chamber of Commerce members today for a “Meet the Contestants” business after-hours, the second event in the EnterpriseU 2012 networking opportunity schedule. The event was cohosted by Manteno’s Rad Rides by Troy in conjunction with Pub at Midtown.

Local restaurateur Adam Baumgartner was slated to present to the group.

Attendees were introduced to this year’s EnterpriseU Entrepreneurs Boot Camp & Business Plan Competition participants, who, along with their business concepts, include:

• Elizabeth Benoit, Kankakee – Natural baby products
• Lenda Hunt, Buckingham – Specialized food service
• Bill Barnes, Bourbonnais – Traffic safety device
• Benjamin Vasquez, Monee – Electronics consignment
• Jeni Chaffer, Bourbonnais – Travel service
• Jacki Long, Manteno – Specialized personal care service
• Tina Gullquist & Jacki Long, Bourbonnais – Indoor dog park
• Nicole Pollock, Bourbonnais – Special event service
• Melanie Boehm, Kankakee – Aquaponics
• Jacob Carlisle, Bourbonnais – Architecture firm
• Emily Hay & Amanda Mazzarro, Bourbonnais – Recycled jewelry and home décor
• Timothy (TJ) Hoekstra Jr., Kankakee – Auto repair
• Cody Dekens, Bradley – Community service organization
• Ellen Rohlwing, Chebanse – Education tool
• Steven Beatty & Lauren Beatty, Kankakee – Sustainability project
• Jeff Yonke, Kankakee – New Age retailer

Contestants are attending a custom small business training program administered Kankakee Community College’s Small Business Development Center. Their completed business plans are due May 30, with live competition finals taking place June 19.

EnterpriseU is program of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, Kankakee Community College and the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, supported by The Daily Journal, LinkPoint Media/Visible Ads, Momentum Momence, the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce, Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce, WKAN, Kankakee Public Library, Kankakee Farmers’ Market, 5 Stone Marketing, Heritage Development & Construction, National Bank of St. Anne and Wayba Productions.

For more information, visit www.enterprise-u.com or phone 815-935-1177.

Economic Alliance President and CEO Mike Van Mill appeared before the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability April 4 in Dwight to register the Alliance’s opposition to the closure of Dwight Correctional Facility. The following letter was read for the record:

Dear Governor Quinn,

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee County wishes to go on record opposing the closing of the Dwight Correctional Facility. The Dwight facility’s economic influence covers a vast region including Grundy, LaSalle, Livingston and Kankakee Counties. The most recent employment data released by IDES shows the aggregate unemployment rate of the four counties at 11.1% compared to the State rate of 9.4%. Statewide, three of the four counties top the State’s unemployment list.

No doubt, the anticipated 629 jobs lost to the region will have dramatic and negative long lasting effects. Based upon a recent Northern Illinois University economic analysis of the closing, the region stands to lose over $28.1 million in direct and indirect employee compensation and $16.2 million in business sales and output.

As for Kankakee County, the impact is magnified. The February 2012 employment data shows Kankakee County to have the highest unemployment rate of any state MSA at 12.9%. According to Correction Facility records, 76 correctional employees, approximately one-quarter of all employees, reside in Kankakee County. The closing and loss of employment for our residents will compound an already devastating unemployment condition in Kankakee County.

The Economic Alliance of Kankakee respectfully requests the State of Illinois reconsider its announcement to close the Dwight Correctional Facility in order to maintain and stabilize a fragile and challenged economic region of Illinois.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Van Mill, AICP

President & CEO

KANKAKEE, IL – February 21, 2012 – The 2012 edition of “EnterpriseU,” Kankakee County’s dedicated boot camp and business plan competition for aspiring entrepreneurs, kicked off this morning with a press conference at Kankakee Community College. Prospective participants, the business community and contest sponsors gathered to learn about several program enhancements, including an increased prize package, and mark the official opening of the program’s registration period.

“We’re thrilled to mark National Entrepreneurship Week by sounding the call for EnterpriseU applications,” remarked Mike Van Mill of the Economic Alliance of Kankakee County, a premier EnterpriseU

sponsor. “The people of Kankakee County are filled with smart, fresh small business ideas. We’re ready to hear them all.”

Also speaking Tuesday were KCC President Dr. John Avendano, KCC Small Business Development Center Director Ken Crite, Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley Executive Director Rick Manuel, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Senior Account Manager Dr. Ed Piatt and 2011 EnterpriseU third-place finisher GeekSpeak Inc.

Read the more here http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2012/0210/Bullish-on-jobs-These-10-cities-are/Kankakee-Bradley-Ill.-4.6-percent

“This is a huge step. This is groundbreaking,” Economic Alliance CEO Mike Van Mill told The Daily Journal last week. “To have it this close to our boundary is a great benefit.”

Van Mill calls the route a major driver for regional development.

The Illiana Expressway is conceived as a bypass for trucks around the congested metropolitan highways, providing access to one of the nation’s largest inland port/intermodal freight areas in Elwood as well as the proposed South Suburban Airport.

The Economic Alliance rallied support for the project locally in 2010, successfully generating resolutions of support from all Kankakee County municipalities, in addition to the Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce.

According to the IC committee, the proposed expressway, connecting I-65 between Cedar Lake and Lowell, Indiana, to I-55 at Route 129 near Wilmington and just south of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, offers the best balance of performance – best financial viability, least environmental impact, greatest local support, highest multipurpose corridor compatibility and lowest risk.

The next public meetings are scheduled for February 22 in Crown Point and February 23 in Matteson.

For more information on the Illiana Expressway project, visit http://www.illianacorridor.org/

Since 1987, ISTC has presented Governors awards to organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practices. Any Illinois public or private organization is eligible to apply for an award. Organizations who are winning for the first time received the Sustainability Award. Those organizations that have won in past years and are continuing their environmental efforts are awarded a Continuous Improvement Award.

“These businesses and organizations have shown that it is possible to create and maintain conditions under which people and the environment can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social and economic requirements of present and future generations,” said Manohar Kulkarni, ISTC Director.

Ambassador Steel, located at 1020 S. Main St., recently announced to its employees that it will close its Rochelle facility. According to a written statement, the decision is based upon a “strategic realignment based upon moving production capacity to best meet future goals and market needs.”

The company, which is based out of Auburn, Ind., and owned by Harris Steel, Inc., declined to comment on the closing, a timeline for when the doors will finally close and what will happen to the employees of the Rochelle factory. Harris Steel, in turn, is owned by Nucor Corp.

According to the release to employees, the company will be investing additional equipment at its Bourbonnais facility and a company official will be meeting with each Rochelle employee individually over the next two weeks to “present and discuss options available.” They reassured workers that the closing was not a reflection on the performance of Rochelle employees

Chicago — Exelon, Electric Transmission America (ETA) and American Electric Power (AEP) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an extra high-voltage transmission project that will become a significant backbone of the next generation transmission system in the Midwest. ETA is a joint venture between AEP and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.

The 420-mile line will strengthen the high-voltage transmission system connecting Illinois to Indiana and through to the border with Ohio, improving overall system reliability while also establishing the infrastructure needed to provide Midwest states access to more sources of renewable energy and meet their state-mandated renewable portfolio standards.

“Not only will this project strengthen the overall transmission system, it also will support the integration of new renewable energy sources and provide a roadmap to help reliably manage the expected retirements of some fossil fuel units, while enhancing broad regional cooperation and planning. This is another way Exelon is helping to drive the nation’s transition to a clean energy future,” said Chris Crane, president and COO of Exelon. “Furthermore, if the RITE Line(^SM) project is approved, it will result in positive economic impacts to Illinois, including job creation and increased economic activity.”

The project will consist of a 765-kilovolt line from the Ohio border through Indiana to the northern portion of Illinois.  ComEd, the delivery company in northern Illinois and a subsidiary of Exelon, is expected to lead the building of the Illinois portion of the project. ETA and AEP will lead the project in Indiana. The project will be built in stages over three to four years, likely between 2015 and 2018, depending on the timing of approvals from federal, regional and state regulators.

The project is the first commercial effort resulting from the recently completed SMARTransmission Study, which was part of an effort to design a conceptual 20-year transmission plan that ensures reliable movement of electricity and provides an efficient transmission system for the Midwest. The study was led by ETA and co-sponsored by a group of several Midwest utilities, including Exelon.

The RITE Line project is expected to cost $1.6 billion and is subject to FERC, PJM (the regional transmission organization) and state approvals. The ultimate cost of the line will be dependent on RTO and state siting requirements, routing of the line, and equipment and commodity costs. Of that amount, $1.2 billion is related to the Illinois portion of the line, and the rest is related to the Indiana portion.

These investments will be made by Exelon, ETA and AEP. Cost allocation to utility customers will be determined later, based on a proposal by PJM and approval by FERC.